Combined metallic shank and counter for boots or shoes



(No Model.)

0. W. EASTON.

COMBINED METALLIC SHANK AND 0011mm FOE BOOTS 0R SHQES.

' 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO W. EASTON, CHESTER, ARKANSAS.

COMBINED METALLIC SHANK AND COUNTER FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,733, dated June 24, 1890.

Application filed September 9, 1889. Serial No. 323,344- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO W. EASTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Crawford and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Metallic Shank and Counter for Boots or Shoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a combined metallic shank and counter for the soles and heels of boots or shoes, and it has for its object the prevention of the breaking down of the shank of the sole and for retaining the entire sole in a relative position with the boot or shoe, at the same time preventing the counter from running over to one side or rearwardly.

To this end the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is had and which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of my device, showing it cut from a plate of metal preparatory to being struck up for use or sale in its proper form. Fig. 2 is an inverted or bottom view of my device complete. Fig. 3 is a perspective of my device, and Fig. 4 is a side view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several figures.

Heretofore metallic plates and shanks have been constructed for the purpose above referred to; but the manner of their construction has been attended with a great deal of expense, they requiring either to be forged by hand or to be rolled in proper form by expensive machinery. This expense is owing to the unequal thickness of the plate and shank, the latter requiring to be sufficiently thick and stiff to prevent the sole under the instep from giving away, while the plate extending from the shank to the ball of the foot must be sufficiently elastic to yield or spring under the movement of the foot. By my improvement I obtain these results and still have the shank and plate, as well as the counter or heel-piece, of an equal thickness throughout, so that they may all be cut at one operation and swaged into proper form out of a plate of steel or other suitable metal, no handwork or subsequent manipulation whatever being necessary.

In the drawings, A indicates the shank, and B the plate, the latter extending from the former to the ball or widest part of the foot of the boot or shoe and gradually curving from the shank outwardly and at its sides, thus increasing the width of the plate at its free end, where these curves form a junction with a curve at said end. The plate B has perfora tions 1) b b in its forward or free end, by means of which it is securely fastened to the insoles in such a manner that it cannot be moved laterally. The shank A and plate B extend rearwardly and terminate at or form a part of a counter or heel-piece,which will be hereinafter described. The former-z'. 6., the shank Ahas formed thereon laterally-projectin g flanges D D,having perforations cl d d therein. The shank A, plate B, and flanges D D, formed upon the shank, present in their construction the cruciform portion of my device, and are, together with the flanges E and c of the counter-plate, secured between the inner and outer soles of the boot or shoe. Over these flanges D D lap inwardly-proj ectingadj ustable flanges E E, formed upon the counter above mentioned, having perforations e e e therein, which register with perforations d d d in the flanges of the shank A, said flanges having bolts or screws passed through these perforations to adj ustably secure the flanges together. The free end of the counter by this means is made adjustable laterally, so that it will suit any sized heel of a boot or shoe. The shank and plate have also perforations c therein, running longitudinally with the same, for securing, in connection with the perforations b b b, the shank and plate to the insole.

C indicates the counter or heel-piece. Upon this heel-piece or counter C is formed a flange or rim 0, notched or crimped and turned inwardly around its lower edge and at right angles to the body of the counter C. Slots f are also formed therein at suitable distances apart, by means of which the counter of and counter-plate C are secured together by any suitable means. The central part of the counter 0 is cut away, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to allow the insole and outsole to be firmly attached in the ordinary manner. The counter 0 assists in retaining the shank in proper position, and also to prevent the counter of the boot or shoe from running or falling over at the sides or rear.

The various parts of the device aboy e described are all struck up out of a single piece of sheet-steel or other suitable material of uniform thickness and swaged in proper form at a single operation. The sheet-steel may be purchased of the requisite thickness, so that no extra expense will attend the obtaining of the proper stock, as they are manufactured or rolled into plates of various thicknesses. The steel is sufficiently thin to admit of the plate B having the requisite degree of elasticity to yield or give to the motions of the foot, the shank A being of the same thickness. Thus it will be seen that by this improvement my device is lighter, stronger, more durable, and cheaper than those in common use, and it is impossible for a boot or shoe to run over sidewise or backward, and that it can be manufactured in all necessary styles, sizes, and strength to suit the different styles, sizes, and weights of slippers, ladies and childrens shoes, boots, &c., and at a comparatively small cost, no forging, rolling, or manipulation of any kind being required to give the requisite stiffness to the shank and elasticity to the plate. The parts, after being cut out and swaged'in proper form, are properly tempered 35 and the device is ready for use, and in consequence of having the parts of an equal thickness they may be more perfectly tempered, as the parts when of an unequal thickness are liable to be tempered too hard or too soft, breaking in the former case across the plate and in the latter case becoming set at the plate portion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is-

- The combination,with the shankAand plate B, the former having the outwardly-projecting perforated flanges D D, the shank A, plate B, and flanges D D constituting'a plate and shank of cruciformconstruction,of the counter 0, having the inwardly-projecting scalloped flange c and inwardly-projecting adjustable flanges E E, coinciding with the bars D and provided with the perforations e 6, all constructed out of one piece of metal, all arranged and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORLANDO WV. EASTON. Witnesses: I

O. F. BUTLER,

W. M. GIFFORD. 

